Effects of the current redistribution within Nb/sub 3/Sn compacted-strand cable on its stability

The effects of current redistribution on the stability have been studied using two kinds of Nb/sub 3/Sn compacted-strand tables with chrome coating and without any coating. The minimum quench energy (MQE) has been measured in various external magnetic field and with various transport current. The MQE of the cable with chrome coating was slightly larger than that of the cable without coating when the transport/critical current ratio, I/I/sub c/, is small. The effects of the different surface condition of the strands on the stability becomes smaller, when the transport current approaches the critical current. The normal zone propagation process of these cables were also different. The initiation of the normal zone propagation in the cable without coating was slower than that in the cable with coating.